MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

Department of Architecture

HOTELS & RESTAURANTS

LIGHTING DESIGN GUIDE
ARCH 489 LIGHTING IN ARCHITECTURE

Abdullah Zamir | Güney Gürsu Tonkal | Merve Uslu

Table of Contents
I. Introduction ......................................................................................... 2
A. What is a Hotel? ............................................................................ 2
B. Definitions & Descriptions ............................................................3
C. Standards ....................................................................................... 4
II. Entrance ................................................................................................5
III. Reception .......................................................................................... 6
IV. Lounge/Lobby ................................................................................... 8
V. Conference Room ................................................................................ 9
VI. Kitchen ............................................................................................. 10
VII. Restaurant ......................................................................................... 11
VIII. Rooms ............................................................................................... 14
A. Basic Room.................................................................................... 15
B. Family Room ................................................................................. 16
C. Luxury Room/Suite ...................................................................... 17
IX. Toilets & Bathrooms ........................................................................ 18
X. Corridors & Hallways ......................................................................... 19
XI. Staircases ......................................................................................... 20
XII. Elevators ........................................................................................... 21
XIII. Balconies ..........................................................................................22
XIV. Parking Lot .......................................................................................22
XV. Conclusion ....................................................................................... 23
XVI. References ....................................................................................... 24

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 I. INTRODUCTION

A. What is a Hotel?

A hotel is a combination of many spaces in varying functions. In a hotel

the essential parts are rooms, lobby, reception, entrance and circulation

parts such as corridors, staircases and elevators. Apart from those spaces,

there can be restaurant/s, kitchen/s and/or kitchenette, conference

room/s, balconies, parking lot and recreation spaces such as pool, spa,

gardens etc. This report contains lighting solutions and suggestions for:

1. Entrance

2. Reception

3. Lobby/Lounge

4. Conference Room

5. Kitchen

6. Restaurant

7. Rooms (Basic Room, Family Room, Luxury Room)

8. Toilets & Bathrooms

9. Corridors & Hallways

10. Staircases

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 11. Elevators

12. Balconies

13. Parking Lot

B. Definitions & Descriptions

Some of the terms that were used in this report and their definitions

are:

1. Black Hole Effect: Visual noise coming from reflections of

glass in the day or in the night. Mirror effect due to the

contrast difference between two spaces.

2. Color Rendering Index: It is a measure of how well light

sources render color.

3. Color Temperature: Temperature of the color a lamp

produces.

4. Glare: A phenomenon caused by the brightness of any object

within the visual field which is brighter than the adaptation

level of the eye.

5. Lux: The SI unit of illuminance, equal to one lumen per square

meter.

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 C. Standards

For a hotel design there are some pre-determined standards and norms

can be found. The following table indicated the lux and color rendering

index values for different spaces of a hotel.

NAME LUX CRI NOTES

Entrance 200 80 Where the first impression is given.

Reception 300 80 Should be comfortable for receptionist.

Lobby/Lounge 200 80 Should have the proper ambiance for the guests.

Conference Room 500 80 Flexible space for various events.

Kitchen 500 80 Should be comfortable for workers.

Restaurant 200 80 Ambiance is important.

Rooms 200 90 Broad possibilities of moods and events.

Toilets/Bathrooms 150 80 Comfort of the guests is important.

Corridors/Hallways 100 80 Basic environment should be visible.

Staircases 100 80 Steps should be visible.

Elevators 150 90 Should be impressive and comfortable for guests.

Balconies 100 80 Relaxing space for the guests.

Parking Lot 75 80 Basic environment should be visible.

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II. ENTRANCE

Entrance in a hotel is where the first impression is given to the guests.

Entrance is a space that directs the guests towards the hotel. It should be

inviting, and it should give an idea about the hotel to the visitors. In terms

of lighting, it is recommended that the entrance is bright enough and

provides clear sight for the visitors. If the hotel has a theme it should be

considered in terms of lighting design as well. If there’s glazing on the

façade, black hole effect must be taken into consideration and the contrast

between inside and outside should be reduced to get rid of that effect. Also,

glare must be prevented on glazed surfaces for a better sight. The lighting

solutions for an entrance of a hotel can be explained as the following:

 General Lighting must be inserted for an even distribution of light

and to create a basic understanding of the environment.

 Accent Lighting is recommended to highlight the name of the

hotel and to direct the guests inside the hotel.

 Architectural Lighting is recommended to emphasize

architectural features of the entrance such as columns, arcade,

walkway etc.

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  The recommended color temperature of an entrance is neither

too warm nor too cool, since too warm light will make the space

look smaller while too cool light will make people feel

uncomfortable.

III. RECEPTION

Reception is where the registration to the hotel is made and it gives the

first impression about the hotel together with the entrance. Entrance and

reception should be distinct yet integrated. Reception should be

comfortable both for the receptionist and the guest. It is the place where

the guests are in contact with the management for the first time so both

the receptionist and the guest should be able to see the other’s face. Glazed

and reflective surfaces should be taken into consideration and glare must

be prevented. The suggested lighting solutions for reception are the

following:

 General Lighting is a must to define the basic environment.

 Task Lighting is highly recommended for the reception desk

so that the receptionist can have the maximum comfort on

his/her task.

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 Cove Lighting is recommended to illuminate the ceiling and

lower the contrast between the objects and the surrounding

elements. Contrast between illuminated surfaces should be

low for the eye to adapt quickly.

 Wall Lighting is recommended at the back of the reception to

create a more comfortable sight for the guest.

 The recommended color temperature is warm temperatures

rather than the cool ones, yet it can be cool depending on the

environment and the theme. However, the integration

between entrance and the reception are should be considered

while designing.

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IV. LOUNGE/LOBBY

Lobby/Lounge is where the guests mostly sit and wait. Lobbies also

contain circulation areas for people to reach the elevators and/or to the

reception desk. In terms of lighting design, it is important that a lobby

should create a cozy atmosphere. Also, the role of natural lighting

shouldn’t be underestimated since it is a good element to contribute the

cozy atmosphere. Lobbies can be colorful depending on the design so in

that case the placement of light sources should be considered regarding

the reflections of those objects. The suggested actions for lighting design

of lobbies can be explained as following:

 General Lighting should provide enough light to distinguish the

objects and decorations in the lobby.

 Ambient Lighting is recommended for specific areas such as

sitting area and waiting area.

 Cove Lighting can illuminate the ceiling and create a soft look.

 Architectural Lighting is suggested to illuminate and highlight

the circulation so that it can be directive for the guests.

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  Color temperature is recommended to be warm and the lighting

level should be lower than the reception area so that a cozy

atmosphere can be achieved.

 High color rendering is recommended in case of colored objects

and decorations in the lobby.

V. CONFERENCE ROOM

Conference room in hotels is a flexible space where various events can

take place. There can be meetings, conferences, presentations etc.

Depending on these activities, lighting installations should also be flexible

and adjustable. It should be illuminated more than the other spaces like

lobby, rooms, restaurant etc. Also, lighting should be considered together

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with the furniture layout for maximum efficiency. Suggested actions for

conference room lighting design are the following:

 General Lighting is necessary for the basic lighting design

purposes together with events like presentations.

 Task Lighting is recommended for the maximum comfort for the

users in case a meeting is happening in the room.

 Accent Lighting is optionally can be installed for conferences or

to highlight the decorative elements in the room.

 No natural light is required since it is hard to control for a flexible

space.

 Cooler color temperatures can be preferred since it is a working

environment.

VI. KITCHEN

Kitchen is where the restaurant’s food is prepared. It is an important

element in hotel organization because if the food comes bad from the

kitchen then it will affect the guests. In terms of lighting design, a kitchen

should be like a “surgery room” for chefs. High amount of details should

be visible so lux level should be enough to see enough details. Glare and

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 the risk of glare should be considered since in kitchens, there can be many

reflective surfaces which can cause glare. Also, the placement of light

sources should allow a flexible furniture layout. The following actions can

be done for the lighting systems of a kitchen:

 General Lighting is required to illuminate the environment.

 Task Lighting is recommended for the counters and various

actions which can be done on counters such as cutting, mixing,

decorating etc.

 Direct sunlight should be avoided because of both risk of glare

and risk of spoiling cooking elements.

 The temperature of light is recommended to be either neutral or

cool because it is a working environment.

VII. RESTAURANT

Restaurant in a hotel should be attractive for the guests and should look

stylish. It should have an ambiance for the guests to feel more comfortable

and cozier. The different components of a restaurant such as cashier area,

self-service buffet area, circulation paths should be considered while

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designing the lighting. Suggested lighting design solutions for a restaurant

can be shown as following:

 General Lighting, as always, is required to illuminate the

general environment. The distribution of light falling on

tables, surfaces should be even. It also should allow people to

see their tables and each other’s faces clearly.

 Ambient Lighting is recommended to create the atmosphere

that will suit to the hotel’s theme. It would be a good idea if

each table has its own light source either on top of it or near it

for even distribution of light purposes.

 Architectural Lighting is recommended to highlight certain

areas such as paths, cashier area, circulation etc.

 Cove Lighting is recommended to illuminate the ceiling and

create a soft look.

 Natural light enhances the features of the restaurant if it is

used and controlled properly. However, in that case adjustable

lighting installations is recommended to avoid possible black

hole effects caused by the contrast between inside and

outside.

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 For the ambiance purposes, warm color temperature is

recommended.

 In case of self-service restaurants, the lighting installations’

positioning and placement should highlight where the buffet

serves. Also, the buffet should have proper installations to

highlight the food and attract the guests.

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VIII. ROOMS

Rooms in a hotel can have various design as well as various functions

for different occasions. Mostly rooms are preferred in a cozy atmosphere.

However, depending on the occasion they can be designed differently. In

general, all rooms in common should have the following features in terms

of lighting design:

 General Lighting is a must to create a basic understanding of

the environment. It can be in a lower brightness level than the

other spaces to achieve the soft look.

 Task Lighting is recommended near to bed/s and/or work

surfaces like desk/s if there is any.

 Natural light enhances the experience in the room so it should

be used effectively.

 Color temperature is recommended to be warm to create a soft

and cozy ambiance.

 Since the guests in hotel rooms use the room for short periods

of time, there is no harm on fixing the lighting installations

considering the furniture layout.

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  Glare on TV screens and reflective surfaces must be prevented.

 Color rendering index is recommended to be high for the

maximum comfort of the guests.

Depending on the types of rooms, these lighting solutions may differ or

may be more. The following solutions are recommended for different types

of rooms:

A. Basic Room

Basic rooms are the rooms that are defined as default setting of a room

with some fundamental necessary equipment. They are mostly used by

most of the society and can have different occasions so it can be said that

basic rooms should be flexible both in terms of lighting design and

function. Here are some extra recommendations for the lighting design of

a basic room:

 Task Lighting should be provided for the desks (if there is any)

for flexible and maximum efficient use of desks.

 Sleeping area should have lower illuminance either as the quality

of light source or as the quantity of light sources.

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  The flexible use of light sources should be arranged with the

quantity of switches. Enough number of switches should control

the light sources to achieve the maximum efficiency for a flexible

use.

B. Family Room

Family room in a hotel is rather more complex than a basic room since

it may contain a kitchenette, living area and different rooms. These types

of rooms are used mostly by families for a relatively longer duration. Since

family rooms have different parts for different activities lighting

installations can be more fixed rather than flexible. The following

recommendations can be applied for the lighting design of a family room:

 Task Lighting is recommended for the kitchenette area, tables,

and desks.

 Mood Lighting can be applied in various parts of the room such

as bedroom, living area to create different ambiances.

 Warm color temperature is recommended together with the low

illuminance for the bedroom.

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  Living area should have a higher illuminance level than the

bedroom which can be created with additional cove lighting or

wall lighting installations.

C. Luxury Room/Suite

Luxury rooms in a hotel can be used for some special occasions and/or

by important people. They usually have high amount of decorations

together with a fine level of architectural details. Since they are used for

special occasions and/or by important people, there may be a set of rooms

which may have different functions such as bedroom, meeting room,

kitchen, living area, office etc. Apart from the basic requirements of

lighting design in rooms, the following applications are recommended in

terms of lighting design in luxury rooms:

 Accent Lighting is recommended to highlight the decorative

elements in the room like paintings, sculptures etc.

 Architectural Lighting can be applied if there are architectural

features in the room like columns.

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  Task Lighting is required for working areas and/or spaces to

create maximum concentration.

 Natural lighting should be emphasized and integrated more

than the other types of rooms since luxury rooms are placed

higher levels of the building.

 Adjustable lighting installations is required for the variety of

occasions.

 Kitchen and bar area should be highlighted to give the luxury

effect.

IX. TOILETS & BATHROOMS

Toilets and bathrooms are as important as room design in a hotel. They

should create a relaxing atmosphere for the guests and the design should

be integrated with the rest of the room. As well as architectural design,

lighting design helps to create the integration between rooms and

bathrooms. The following recommendations are for the lighting design of

a hotel toilet and bathroom:

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  General lighting is required to illuminate the area. However,

when placing the light sources, the locations of shower basin and

bathtub must be considered.

 Sink and counters should be well illuminated with task lighting.

 Shower area should be illuminated indirectly, and no light source

should be on top of the shower basin.

 Accent Lighting should be placed either on top of the mirror or

with the mirror for a person to see high amount of details.

 Glare on the mirror should be prevented and lighting layout

should be considered together with the reflectance of the

surfaces.

 High color temperature and low illuminance level is

recommended to enhance the overall atmosphere.

X. CORRIDORS & HALLWAYS

Corridors and hallways are one of the elements forming the circulation

in a hotel. They should be directing people and it should make people

navigate easier in the hotel. Lighting design is a way to create a directing

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space for the people. The following design recommendations can be

applied in corridors and hallways in a hotel:

 Lighting installations should allow people to see the basic

environment.

 Valance Lighting can be used to illuminate the walls and make

the space look larger if it is too narrow.

 Cove Lighting is optional to illuminate the ceiling in cases of too

narrow hallways.

 Placement of luminaires should be considered according to the

width and height of the hallway so they shouldn’t be placed too

close to each other or too far from each other.

XI. STAIRCASES

Staircases are another component of the circulation in a hotel and they

should be properly illuminated. The following actions can be done to

illuminate staircases:

 Every step should be visible which can be created by accent

lighting in a lower luminance level.

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  Light sources should be placed in every or every second step

to create a safe environment.

 Color rendering index is not a vital element in the lighting

design of staircases as long as the staircases are safe for people

to see the basic environment.

XII. ELEVATORS

Elevators are the most important part of circulation in hotels since most

of the guests use the elevators to travel between floors. In some cases,

elevators are being used as a decorative element to impress the visitors. For

the attraction of visitors, the lighting design should also be impressive in

the elevators. The following recommendations are for a better

environment in elevators in terms of lighting:

 Accent Lighting to illuminate the entrance of the elevators, so

that it would attract and direct visitors towards the elevator.

 Daylight should be imitated with the proper color

temperature, most likely neutral, for people to feel safe inside.

 Interior should be illuminated in a higher amount, but it

shouldn’t be over-illuminated.

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  Glare should be considered in case of having mirror inside.

 Ceiling should be illuminated to create the illusion of a larger

space.

XIII. BALCONIES

Balconies in a hotel create a connection between indoors and outdoors

and it is mostly used for relaxing purposes both in daytime and nighttime.

Lighting design of balconies shouldn’t be skipped in the hotels since they

have a potential to enhance the user experience. The recommended

lighting solutions for the balconies are as following:

 Soft and warm lights should be preferred to support the

overall ambiance.

 Black hole effect should be prevented by reducing the contrast

between indoors and outdoors. For this reason, diffused light

sources should be preferred.

XIV. PARKING LOT

If the hotel has an underground parking lot, only general lighting is enough

just to enable visitors to see the basic environment.

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XV. CONCLUSION

In conclusion, a hotel should contain some basic spaces like entrance,

lobby, reception, rooms and circulation parts like corridors, elevators and

staircases. However, for a better user experience there can be some

recreation spaces, restaurant, kitchenette, balconies and conference rooms

etc. A hotel must be designed in an integrated way since there are various

spaces. Another point while designing a hotel is energy efficiency. For

energy efficiency reasons. Energy efficient bulbs should be preferred to

reduce energy consumption. Also, the role of daylight should not be

underestimated, and it should be used well-integrated with the overall

design and lighting design.

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XVI. REFERENCES

Ataylar, F. (2019, March). Lighting Objectives, Lighting Parameters.

Lecture presented at ARCH489 Lighting in Architecture in METU,

Department of Architecture, Ankara.

European Comission (n.d.). How to Design Great Lighting In a Hotel Or

a Restaurant While Reducing Energy Consumption? Retrieved May 27,

2019, from http://ec.europa.eu/environment/emas/takeagreenstep/

09-article.html

Skansi, R. (2018). Hotel Lighting Project Handbook (Published master's

thesis).

Posters for South Bank Hotel London [Photograph]. (n.d.). South Bank

Hotel, London.

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